Yesterday Khaled Al-Qazzaz’s lawyers were notified of the scheduled court appearance for November 4, 2014 to appeal his latest detention renewal. However, Khaled’s critical health condition did not allow for him to leave the hospital.

The lawyers attended the appeal but discovered it was assigned to the same judge who passed the renewal decision on October 28, 2014. This resulted in an incorrect legal proceeding and therefore it was cancelled.

Khaled was transferred to a hospital last Sunday October 26, 2014 for surgery. His situation is far worse than expected and remains critical. Khaled's family hopes that the prosecutor general will issue a release on medical grounds in light of his ailing health and nearly 500 days of detention without charge.

Background

Khaled Al-Qazzaz, a permanent resident of Canada and father of four young Canadian children, has been unlawfully detained without charge in Egypt for over 480 days. Khaled spends his days and nights in solitary confinement in a cramped insect-infested cell slightly larger than a broom closet in one of Egypt’s most notorious prisons. Khaled's health has deteriorated due to the conditions of his detainment and is at risk of permanent paralysis if not provided with appropriate medical care immediately.

Khaled Al-Qazzaz is an acclaimed educator, youth activist, human rights champion and revolutionary. Khaled was a staffer, bureaucrat and civil servant of a democratically elected government and he exercised his rights to freedom of expression and association peacefully.

Toronto-born Sarah Attia, Khaled’s wife, has been calling on the Canadian government and international community to urgently assist in securing Khaled’s immediate release.

On July 3, 2013, the Egyptian military forcibly and illegally detained Khaled Al-Qazzaz, a Canadian-educated mechanical engineer, human rights activist and former school principal. His Toronto-born wife, Sarah Attia, has been raising awareness about his situation with the hopes of bringing him back home to her and their four children.